State prison time for hit and run driver

NORWICH – A Plainfield man accused of striking and killing a West Winfield woman with his pick-up truck was sentenced to one and a half to four years in state prison Monday after admitting to the October 2011 hit-and-run in an agreed upon disposition between the defendant and the Chenango County district attorney’s office.

Daniel B. Preston, 27, of 597 Armstrong Road, was originally charged with leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident – a felony – and third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle following the incident, which occurred at approximately 6:50 p.m. Oct. 27, 2011, on County Route 25 in the Town of Columbus. The victim, 50-year-old Linda J. Jakubowski-Decker, was transported to Bassett Hospital with severe head trauma and pronounced dead upon arrival.

Preston was subsequently charged with fifth degree criminal possession of marijuana following a Chenango County Sheriff’s Office investigation into the hit and run. According to authorities, more than 25 grams of marijuana were found in Preston’s truck.